San Rafael shooting victim shows up at Canal area firehouse

The crew at Station 54 in San Rafael's Canal area was sound asleep following an exhausting day that included fighting a two-alarm blaze when an urgent call came in from a dispatcher: A gunshot victim was at the front door seeking help.

Firefighter Dan Sutherlin opened the door to find a man in his late 20s slumped on the ground after collapsing while calling from an exterior firehouse phone that links to the county communications center.

The victim, suffering from a wound to the chest, was conscious but in extreme pain, and Sutherlin worked with paramedic Eric Jennings and Capt. Nick Giusti to provide first aid.

The crew, along with help from Station 51 medics Chris Donohue and Scott Preckwinkle, whisked the victim to Marin General Hospital, the three paramedics aboard providing aid along the way.

"We had him there within 12 minutes of finding him at the door," Capt. Giusti said.

The condition of the victim was not released. His identity was withheld "because of the ongoing investigation," police spokeswoman Margo Rohrbacher said, providing few details about the case. She said detectives discovered a "crime scene" in an industrial area at Pelican Way and Kerner Boulevard, but did not elaborate.

The victim apparently drove himself to the firehouse about 11:25 p.m. Tuesday. The three-member crew had retired for the night after a busy day that included fighting a fire at a home on Sea View Avenue.

"We were in bed after a rough day," Giusti said, adding the three were wide awake in an instant. "The paramedics and engineer did a great job."